Which syndrome is characterized by severe memory impairment and can follow Wernicke encephalopathy?

• A. Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
• B. Wernicke encephalopathy
• C. Delirium tremens
• D. Withdrawal

Answer: (A)

Memory impairment that is severe and lasting after an episode of Wernicke encephalopathy is characteristic of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. This condition arises from thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency, often linked to alcohol use, where the acute Wernicke encephalopathy can progress to a chronic amnestic disorder if not treated promptly. Wernicke encephalopathy presents with the acute signs of eye movement abnormalities, gait ataxia, and confusion, while Korsakoff adds profound memory problems—both anterograde and retrograde—with confabulation and poor insight. The underlying damage typically affects memory-related areas in the diencephalon, such as the mammillary bodies and thalamus, leading to the severe memory impairment described. So, when memory is severely impaired after Wernicke’s episode, the diagnosis fits Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.